The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum

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Glinda's castle was a long way from the mountains, butthe Scarecrow began the journey cheerfully, since timewas of no great importance in the Land of Oz and he hadrecently made the trip and knew the way. It nevermattered much to Button-Bright where he was or what hewas doing; the boy was content in being alive and havinggood companions to share his wanderings. As for Trot andCap'n Bill, they now found themselves so comfortable andfree from danger, in this fine fairyland, and they wereso awed and amazed by the adventures they wereencountering, that the journey to Glinda's castle wasmore like a pleasure trip than a hardship, so manywonderful things were there to see.

Button-Bright had been in Oz before, but never in thispart of it, so the Scarecrow was the only one who knewthe paths and could lead them. They had eaten a heartybreakfast, which they found already prepared for them andawaiting them on the table when they arose from theirrefreshing sleep, so they left the magic house in acontented mood and with hearts lighter and more happythan they had known for many a day. As they marchedalong through the fields, the sun shone brightly and thebreeze was laden with delicious fragrance, for it carriedwith it the breath of millions of wildflowers.

At noon, when they stopped to rest by the bank of apretty river, Trot said with a long-drawn breath that wasmuch like a sigh:

"I wish we'd brought with us some of the food that wasleft from our breakfast, for I'm getting hungry again."

Scarcely had she spoken when a table rose up beforethem, as if from the ground itself, and it was loadedwith fruits and nuts and cakes and many other good thingsto eat. The little girl's eyes opened wide at thisdisplay of magic, and Cap'n Bill was not sure that thethings were actually there and fit to eat until he hadtaken them in his hand and tasted them. But the Scarecrowsaid with a laugh:

"Someone is looking after your welfare, that iscertain, and from the looks of this table I suspect myfriend the Wizard has taken us in his charge. I've knownhim to do things like this before, and if we are in theWizard's care you need not worry about your future."

The Scarecrow looked around the place while the otherswere feasting, and finding many things unfamiliar to himhe shook his head and remarked:

"I must have taken the wrong path, back in that lastvalley, for on my way to Jinxland I remember that Ipassed around the foot of this river, where there was agreat waterfall."

"Did the river make a bend, after the waterfall?" askedCap'n Bill.

"No, the river disappeared. Only a pool of whirlingwater showed what had become of the river; but I supposeit is under ground, somewhere, and will come to thesurface again in another part of the country."

"Well," suggested Trot, as she finished her luncheon,"as there is no way to cross this river, I s'pose we'llhave to find that waterfall, and go around it."

"Exactly," replied the Scarecrow; so they soon renewedtheir journey, following the river for a long time untilthe roar of the waterfall sounded in their ears. By andby they came to the waterfall itself, a sheet of silverdropping far, far down into a tiny lake which seemed tohave no outlet. From the top of the fall, where theystood, the banks gradually sloped away, so that thedescent by land was quite easy, while the river could donothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumblestraight down to the depths below.

"You see," said the Scarecrow, leaning over the brink,"this is called by our Oz people the Great Waterfall,because it is certainly the highest one in all the land;but I think -- Help!"

He had lost his balance and pitched headforemost intothe river. They saw a flash of straw and blue clothes,and the painted face looking upward in surprise. Thenext moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfalland plunged into the basin below.

The accident had happened so suddenly that for a momentthey were all too horrified to speak or move.

"Quick! We must go to help him or he will be drowned,"Trot exclaimed.

Even while speaking she began to descend the bank tothe pool below, and Cap'n Bill followed as swiftly as hiswooden leg would let him. Button-Bright came more slowly,calling to the girl:

"He can't drown, Trot; he's a Scarecrow."

But she wasn't sure a Scarecrow couldn't drown andnever relaxed her speed until she stood on the edge ofthe pool, with the spray dashing in her face. Cap'n Bill,puffing and panting, had just voice enough to ask, as hereached her side:

"See him, Trot?"

"Not a speck of him. Oh, Cap'n, what do you s'pose hasbecome of him?"

"I s'pose," replied the sailor, "that he's in thatwater, more or less far down, and I'm 'fraid it'll makehis straw pretty soggy. But as fer his bein' drowned, Iagree with Button-Bright that it can't be done."

There was small comfort in this assurance and Trotstood for some time searching with her eyes the bubblingwater, in the hope that the Scarecrow would finally cometo the surface. Presently she heard Button-Brightcalling: "Come here, Trot!" and looking around she sawthat the boy had crept over the wet rocks to the edge ofthe waterfall and seemed to be peering behind it. Makingher way toward him, she asked:

She was a little doubtful of that, but the caveinterested her, and so did it Cap'n Bill. There was justspace enough at the edge of the sheet of water for themto crowd in behind it, but after that dangerous entrancethey found room enough to walk upright and after a timethey came to an opening in the wall of rock. Approachingthis opening, they gazed within it and found a series ofsteps, cut so that they might easily descend into thecavern.

Trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions. Thefalling water made such din and roaring that her voicecould not be heard. Cap'n Bill nodded his head, butbefore he could enter the cave, Button-Bright was beforehim, clambering down the steps without a particle offear. So the others followed the boy.

The first steps were wet with spray, and slippery, butthe remainder were quite dry. A rosy light seemed to comefrom the interior of the cave, and this lighted theirway. After the steps there was a short tunnel, highenough for them to walk erect in. and then they reachedthe cave itself and paused in wonder and admiration.

They stood on the edge of a vast cavern, the wallsand domed roof of which were lined with countlessrubies, exquisitely cut and flashing sparkling raysfrom one to another. This caused a radiant light thatpermitted the entire cavern to be distinctly seen, andthe effect was so marvelous that Trot drew in herbreath with a sort of a gasp, and stood quite still inwonder.

But the walls and roof of the cavern were merely asetting for a more wonderful scene. In the center was abubbling caldron of water, for here the river rose again,splashing and dashing till its spray rose high in theair, where it took the ruby color of the jewels andseemed like a seething mass of flame. And while theygazed into the tumbling, tossing water, the body of theScarecrow suddenly rose in the center, struggling andkicking, and the next instant wholly disappeared fromview.

Trot and Cap'n Bill discovered that a broad ledge --covered, like the walls, with glittering rubies -- ranall around the cavern; so they followed this gorgeouspath to the rear and found where the water made its finaldive underground, before it disappeared entirely. Whereit plunged into this dim abyss the river was black anddreary looking, and they stood gazing in awe until justbeside them the body of the Scarecrow again popped upfrom the water.

Chapter Twenty Three

The Land of Oz

The straw man's appearance on the water was so suddenthat it startled Trot, but Cap'n Bill had the presence ofmind to stick his wooden leg out over the water and theScarecrow made a desperate clutch and grabbed the legwith both hands. He managed to hold on until Trot andButton-Bright knelt down and seized his clothing, but thechildren would have been powerless to drag the soakedScarecrow ashore had not Cap'n Bill now assisted them.When they laid him on the ledge of rubies he was the mostuseless looking Scarecrow you can imagine -- his strawsodden and dripping with water, his clothing wet andcrumpled, while even the sack upon which his face waspainted had become so wrinkled that the old jollyexpression of their stuffed friend's features wasentirely gone. But he could still speak, and when Trotbent down her ear she heard him say:

"Get me out of here as soon as you can."

That seemed a wise thing to do, so Cap'n Bill liftedhis head and shoulders, and Trot and Button-Bright eachtook a leg; among them they partly carried and partlydragged the damp Scarecrow out of the Ruby Cavern, alongthe tunnel, and up the flight of rock steps. It wassomewhat difficult to get him past the edge of thewaterfall, but they succeeded, after much effort, and afew minutes later laid their poor comrade on a grassybank where the sun shone upon him freely and he wasbeyond the reach of the spray.

Cap'n Bill now knelt down and examined the straw thatthe Scarecrow was stuffed with.

"I don't believe it'll be of much use to him, anymore," said he, "for it's full of polliwogs an' fisheggs, an' the water has took all the crinkle out o' thestraw an ruined it. I guess, Trot, that the best thingfor us to do is to empty out all his body an' carry hishead an' clothes along the road till we come to a fieldor a house where we can get some fresh straw."

"Yes, Cap'n," she agreed, "there's nothing else to bedone. But how shall we ever find the road to Glinda'spalace, without the Scarecrow to guide us?"

"That's easy," said the Scarecrow, speaking in a ratherfeeble but distinct voice. "If Cap'n Bill will carry myhead on his shoulders, eyes front, I can tell him whichway to go."

So they followed that plan and emptied all the old, wetstraw out of the Scarecrow's body. Then the sailor-manwrung out the clothes and laid them in the sun till theywere quite dry. Trot took charge of the head and pressedthe wrinkles out of the face as it dried, so that after awhile the Scarecrow's expression became natural again,and as jolly as before.

This work consumed some time, but when it was completedthey again started upon their journey, Button-Brightcarrying the boots and hat, Trot the bundle of clothes,and Cap'n Bill the head. The Scarecrow, having regainedhis composure and being now in a good humor, despite hisrecent mishaps, beguiled their way with stories of theLand of Oz.

It was not until the next morning, however, that theyfound straw with which to restuff the Scarecrow. Thatevening they came to the same little house they had sleptin before, only now it was magically transferred to a newplace. The same bountiful supper as before was foundsmoking hot upon the table and the same cosy beds wereready for them to sleep in.

They rose early and after breakfast went out of doors,and there, lying just beside the house, was a heap ofclean, crisp straw. Ozma had noticed the Scarecrow'saccident in her Magic Picture and had notified the Wizardto provide the straw, for she knew the adventurers werenot likely to find straw in the country through whichthey were now traveling.

They lost no time in stuffing the Scarecrow anew, andhe was greatly delighted at being able to walk aroundagain and to assume the leadership of the little party.

"Really," said Trot, "I think you're better than youwere before, for you are fresh and sweet all through andrustle beautifully when you move."

"Thank you, my dear," he replied gratefully. "I alwaysfeel like a new man when I'm freshly stuffed. No onelikes to get musty, you know, and even good straw may bespoiled by age."

"It was water that spoiled you, the last time,"remarked Button-Bright, "which proves that too muchbathing is as bad as too little. But, after all,Scarecrow, water is not as dangerous for you as fire."

"All things are good in moderation," declared theScarecrow. "But now, let us hurry on, or we shall notreach Glinda's palace by nightfall."

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Royal Reception

At about four o'clock of that same day the Red Wagondrew up at the entrance to Glinda's palace and Dorothyand Betsy jumped out. Ozma's Red Wagon was almost achariot, being inlaid with rubies and pearls, and it wasdrawn by Ozma's favorite steed, the wooden Sawhorse.

"Shall I unharness you," asked Dorothy, "so you cancome in and visit?"

So they left the wooden animal and went in to seeGlinda, who welcomed the little girls in her most cordialmanner.

"I knew you were on your way," said the good Sorceresswhen they were seated in her library, "for I learned frommy Record Book that you intended to meet Trot and Button-Bright on their arrival here."

"Is the strange little girl named Trot?" asked Dorothy.

"Yes; and her companion, the old sailor, is named Cap'nBill. I think we shall like them very much, for they arejust the kind of people to enjoy and appreciate ourfairyland and I do not see any way, at present, for themto return again to the outside world."

"Well, there's room enough here for them, I'm sure,"said Dorothy. "Betsy and I are already eager to welcomeTrot. It will keep us busy for a year, at least, showingher all the wonderful things in Oz."

Glinda smiled.

"I have lived here many years," said she, "and I havenot seen all the wonders of Oz yet."

Meantime the travelers were drawing near to the palace,and when they first caught sight of its towers Trotrealized that it was far more grand and imposing than wasthe King's castle in Jinxland. The nearer they came, themore beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally theScarecrow led them up the great marble steps, evenButton-Bright was filled with awe.

"I don't see any soldiers to guard the place," said thelittle girl.

"There is no need to guard Glinda's palace," repliedthe Scarecrow. "We have no wicked people in Oz, that weknow of, and even if there were any, Glinda's magic wouldbe powerful enough to protect her."

Button-Bright was now standing on the top steps of theentrance, and he suddenly exclaimed:

"Why, there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip,hooray!" and next moment he was rushing down to throw hisarms around the neck of the wooden horse, which good-naturedly permitted this familiarity when it recognizedin the boy an old friend.

Button-Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace,so now Dorothy and Betsy came running out to embracetheir beloved friend, the Scarecrow, and to welcome Trotand Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz.

"We've been watching you for a long time, in Ozma'sMagic Picture," said Dorothy, "and Ozma has sent us toinvite you to her own palace in the Em'rald City. I don'tknow if you realize how lucky you are to get thatinvitation, but you'll understand it better after you'veseen the royal palace and the Em'rald City."

Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the partyinto her Azure Reception Room. Trot was a little afraidof the stately Sorceress, but gained courage by holdingfast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy. Cap'n Bill had noone to help him feel at ease, so the old sailor satstiffly on the edge of his chair and said:

"Yes, ma'am," or "No, ma'am," when he was spoken to,and was greatly embarrassed by so much splendor.

The Scarecrow had lived so much in palaces that he feltquite at home, and he chatted to Glinda and the Oz girlsin a merry, light-hearted way. He told all about hisadventures in Jinxland, and at the Great Waterfall, andon the journey hither -- most of which his hearers knewalready -- and then he asked Dorothy and Betsy what hadhappened in the Emerald City since he had left there.

They all passed the evening and the night at Glinda'spalace, and the Sorceress was so gracious to Cap'n Billthat the old man by degrees regained his self-possessionand began to enjoy himself. Trot had already come to theconclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had found twodelightful comrades, and Button-Bright was just as muchat home here as he had been in the fields of Jinxland orwhen he was buried in the popcorn snow of the Land of Mo.

The next morning they arose bright and early and afterbreakfast bade good-bye to the kind Sorceress, whom Trotand Cap'n Bill thanked earnestly for sending theScarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them. Then they allclimbed into the Red Wagon.

There was room for all on the broad seats, and when allhad taken their places -- Dorothy, Trot and Betsy on therear seat and Cap'n Bill, Button-Bright and the Scarecrowin front -- they called "Gid-dap!" to the Sawhorse andthe wooden steed moved briskly away, pulling the RedWagon with ease.

It was now that the strangers began to perceive thereal beauties of the Land of Oz, for they were passingthrough a more thickly settled part of the country andthe population grew more dense as they drew nearer to theEmerald City. Everyone they met had a cheery word or asmile for the Scarecrow, Dorothy and Betsy Bobbin, andsome of them remembered Button-Bright and welcomed himback to their country.

It was a happy party, indeed, that journeyed in the RedWagon to the Emerald City, and Trot already began to hopethat Ozma would permit her and Cap'n Bill to live alwaysin the Land of Oz.

When they reached the great city they were more amazedthan ever, both by the concourse of people in theirquaint and picturesque costumes, and by the splendor ofthe city itself. But the magnificence of the Royal Palacequite took their breath away, until Ozma received them inher own pretty apartment and by her charming manners andassuring smiles made them feel they were no longerstrangers.

Trot was given a lovely little room next to that ofDorothy, while Cap'n Bill had the cosiest sort of a roomnext to Trot's and overlooking the gardens. And thatevening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception in honorof the new arrivals. While Trot had read of many of thepeople she then met, Cap'n Bill was less familiar withthem and many of the unusual characters introduced to himthat evening caused the old sailor to open his eyes widein astonishment.

He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious asanyone could be, but now he met the Tin Woodman, who wasall made of tin, even to his heart, and carried agleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went. Thenthere was Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkinwith the face carved upon it; and Professor Wogglebug,who had the shape of an enormous bug but was dressed inneat fitting garments. The Professor was an interestingtalker and had very polite manners, but his face was socomical that it made Cap'n Bill smile to look at it. Agreat friend of Dorothy and Ozma seemed to be a machineman called Tik-Tok, who ran down several times during theevening and had to be wound up again by someone before hecould move or speak.

At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and hisbrother, both very popular in Oz, as well as Dorothy'sUncle Henry and Aunt Em, two happy old people who livedin a pretty cottage near the palace.

But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trotand Cap'n Bill was the number of peculiar animalsadmitted into Ozma's parlors, where they not onlyconducted themselves quite properly but were able to talkas well as anyone.

There was the Cowardly Lion, an immense beast with abeautiful mane; and the Hungry Tiger, who smiledcontinually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten, who lay curledupon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; andthe wooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belongedto the Wizard; and a mule named Hank, who belonged toBetsy Bobbin. A fuzzy little terrier dog, named Toto, layat Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in theconversation, although he listened to every word that wassaid. But the most wonderful of all to Trot was a squarebeast with a winning smile, that squatted in a corner ofthe room and wagged his square head at everyone in quitea jolly way. Betsy told Trot that this unique beast wascalled the Woozy, and there was no other like him in allthe world.

Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantlyfor the Wizard of Oz, but the evening was far advancedbefore the famous little man entered the room. But hewent up to the strangers at once and said:

"I know you, but you don't know me; so let's getacquainted."

And they did get acquainted, in a very short time, andbefore the evening was over Trot felt that she knew everyperson and animal present at the reception, and that theywere all her good friends.

Suddenly they looked around for Button-Bright, but hewas nowhere to be found.

"Dear me!" cried Trot. "He's lost again."

"Never mind, my dear," said Ozma, with her charmingsmile, "no one can go far astray in the Land of Oz, andif Button-Bright isn't lost occasionally, he isn'thappy."

The Wonderful Oz Books by L. Frank Baum

THE WIZARD OF OZTHE LAND OF OZOZMA OF OZDOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZTHE ROAD TO OZTHE EMERALD CITY OF OZTHE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZTIK-TOK OF OZTHE SCARECROW OF OZRINKITINK IN OZTHE LOST PRINCESS OF OZTHE TIN WOODMAN OF OZTHE MAGIC OF OZGLINDA OF OZ